MLB Player News

Abreu went 2-for-4 with a solo homer in a loss to the Tigers on Wednesday.

It was his 19th bomb of the season and fourth since Aug. 21. During that stretch, he has hits in nine of his last 10 games, going 13-for-37 (.351). Abreu closes out the month slashing .362/.414/.648 with seven bombs, 17 RBI and 16 runs. If he keeps this up, Abreu has a chance to finish with a .300 batting average, 25 home runs and 90 RBI.

Gurriel is starting in left field Wednesday against the A's.

After getting the day off Tuesday, Gurriel will return to action, making his first major league start in the outfield. Gurriel has worked primarily at third base, though he made one start in left field while at Triple-A Fresno.

Cron blasted two home runs in a 2-for-4 game with three RBI in Tuesday's win over the Reds.

Cron extended his hitting streak to seven games with the effort and now has three home runs over his past two games. He's now up to 14 home runs in just 87 games and should have no problem blowing past his career high of 16 home runs set last year (in 113 games) if he gets regular playing time down the stretch. Cron posted a .439 slugging percentage last year, a mark that clearly wouldn't pass muster given his lack of other tools. He's up to .498 this season, and even though he has shown lackluster plate discipline (5.5 percent walk rate, .337 OBP), his power is looking like it will be enough to make him a productive major leaguer.

Gurriel is out of Tuesday's lineup against Oakland, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Gurriel had been starting to find his rhythm at the plate recently, as he's gone 6-for-14 over the last four games. The 32-year-old rookie will get the night off as Alex Bregman starts at third base and Evan Gattis serves as the DH.

Cron went 3-for-4 with a double, a homer, two runs and two RBI in Monday's 9-2 win over the Reds.

Cron was one of four Angels to leave the yard against Reds starter Dan Straily. The 26-year-old has strung together consecutive three-hit games, and is beginning to solidify himself as the clean-up hitter in Los Angeles. That's a valuable role with Mike Trout and Albert Pujols occupying the two preceding lineup spots.

Calhoun went 3-for-5 with a double, a homer and two runs scored Monday against the Reds.

Calhoun was one of four Angels to hit both a double and a home run, as their lineup teed off on Reds starter Dan Straily in a 9-2 victory. The leadoff man has put together a six-game hitting streak following a cold stretch in which he managed just a lone single in five games. There's still much room for improvement considering the long ball was only Calhoun's third since Jun. 25.

Gurriel is in the lineup Monday, manning third base and batting sixth against the A's.

Gurriel has played in six games since joining the Astros, but until Monday, he had been relegated to either pinch-hitting or DH duties. He figures to see more time at both third base and in the outfield down the stretch run of the season, though it's also possible he continues as the club's preferred DH option.

Cron went 3-for-4 with a triple and a run scored in Sunday's win over the Tigers.

He's been solid since coming off the DL last weekend, hitting .278 (9-for-32), but the triple was his first extra-base hit during that stretch. Expect Cron to find his power stroke again soon enough.

Astros manager A.J. Hinch said Sunday that Gurriel is expected to log starts in the field within the next few games, MLB.com's Jordan Ray reports.

The Cuban import made his big-league debut last week and has seemingly locked himself in as a lineup regular. He's in the lineup at DH on Sunday, marking the third straight game he's assumed those duties, but Gurriel's ability to play third base and left field could result in fewer opportunities for Alex Bregman, Tony Kemp and Marwin Gonzalez in the games to come.

Gurriel went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI doubles in Saturday's 6-2 victory over the Rays.

The rookie drove in Evan Gattis with a two-bagger to deep right center in the second and then closed out the scoring with another double in the seventh that plated Alex Bregman. Gurriel now has hits in three of his first five major league games, with Saturday's production serving as his first multi-hit effort. The two RBI were also the first of Gurriel's young career.